On June 1, 2023, the sequel to the animated movie “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse” hit theaters. On this occasion, FILMSTARTS editor Stefan Geisler met the two masterminds behind the Spider-Verse: the producers and screenwriters Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who are also directors responsible for films such as “The Lego Movie” or “21 Jump Street”, gave us extensive information via zoom – about her new film, the future of the spider universe and why it’s nonsense to keep telling characters as they were conceived 60 years ago.
But first, of course, we wanted to know how difficult it was to follow the great predecessor “Spider-Man: A New Universe” with two sequels…
More than the middle part of a trilogy!
Chris Miller: It took us a long time to figure out what story we wanted to tell while making this movie. We spent a while trying to fit two movies into one story until we realized that the story we’re telling here is the middle chapter of the trilogy. Fortunately, all our partners and colleagues believed in this idea and agreed, even if it meant that it might take a little longer to finish the film.
But in the end, even this part tells a satisfying story with a beginning, a middle, and an end for Miles and all the characters, and yet there are still open storylines that can be found in the final chapter of the trilogy. [Anm.: „Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse“ erscheint 2024] must be closed.
Phil Lord: I think we always approach these movies in the same way. With the question: “How much can we allow ourselves? [lacht] and how can we surprise the audience and show them things they didn’t even think they would see on screen.” So I can’t say it really changed the way we work, other than the connection has given us more options.
Chris Miller: Yes, I think anything is possible in the multiverse!
Phil Lord: But in general, we’ve tried to move away from the idea that there are clear dividing lines between the different movie universes. I think in the mind of the public these universes all hold the same place – even if they come from different universes.
That things that don’t seem to belong together still get the same place on the screen and coexist is one of the core messages of the film: the uniqueness of each person, the place they come from, they are the source of their strength . And even if two people of different dimensions see each other who don’t look or act the same, these figures can still belong together.
Chris Miller: It’s like a jazz combo band, where everyone has their solo, but in the end they all play together. You don’t want every instrument to be a saxophone…
Phil Lord: You don’t want that, but I’m sure the Berlin Saxophone Ensemble has a different opinion [lacht].
Nicolas Cage in a new “Spider-Man” series?
Chris Miller: A Spider-Man variant from the Spiderverse that deserves its own spin-off? I think they could each have their own spin-off. They all come from interesting worlds that are unique and have unique art and animation styles. For example, we are currently working on a number of live-action series featuring characters from the Spider-Verse. We’re doing a Silk series based on the Cindy Moon character and a Spider-Man noir series.
Chris Miller: [lacht] Everything is possible in the multiverse…
Phil Lord: That is a good question. The idea of Spider-Man is that a spider-man is basically just like all of us. They are scared, feel unprepared and can be clumsy. Their heroism is not a birthright and does not come from outer space. They must learn to be a hero, and in the case of most spider people, they are driven by tragedy and loss. This experience helps them define their values and goals.
In the comics, Spider-Man needs a new tragedy every few years to remind him why he does what he does. It’s a really interesting thread that all Spider-People are in conflict between what makes them happy as individuals versus the responsibilities they’ve placed on themselves as Spider-Man. For example, Spider-Man and Miles Morales can never be happy at the same time – and Miles wants to question that too.
There is also the myth that an artist must be tortured to make good art. That you have to suffer for art and wear a black turtleneck for art to be good – but we hope that’s not true. We try to argue that it is possible to make great art and be a happy and healthy person at the same time.
Cartoon characters need to be reinvented: “Forbid change is wrong!”
Chris Miller: I really hope so. I think this movie shows a lot of different ways that a person can be a Spider-Man or a Spider-Woman or even a Spider-Horse.
Phil Lord: The beauty of this is how these characters have stood the test of time. Steve Ditko and Stan Lee created these characters over 60 years ago, and many different artists and writers have continued to spin this universe, creating new stories and giving them their own personalities and perspectives. That’s what makes them last a long time.
Keeping them trapped in a nostalgic vision and forbidding change is wrong, it’s not good for the art, the artists or the public. For these things to survive they have to evolve, and the same goes for the characters: to survive they have to grow up and evolve or else they will fail.
Author:
Source : Film Starts
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
